LOS ANGELES, CA (Nov. 4, 2009) --
The Los Angeles Community College Districtís Board of Trustees has authorized
the hiring of a financial and management advisory firm to conduct an independent
organizational assessment of the Districtís $6 billion building program.

The assessment will evaluate BuildLACCD, the team of construction businesses
managing the Districtís construction program. The program is modernizing all of
the Districtís nine colleges, many of which had no substantial construction for
more than three decades.

Named to conduct the organizational
assessment was Capstone Advisory Group LLC, which provides financial and
operational advice to private sector and public sector clients. The Saddle
Brook, N.J.-based firm has five offices around the country, including a
location in Los Angeles.

A previous independent management assessment of the Districtís building program
was completed in 2005.

ďWe felt that it was time to
take a fresh look at the program,Ē said Board President Mona Field. ďA year ago
voters approved Measure J, a $3.5 billion bond measure that more than doubled
the size of our program. We want to make sure that we are managing our expanded
effort as effectively as possible.Ē

LACCD officials noted that the construction effort, also known as the
Sustainable Building Program,routinely comes
under other assessments. Those evaluations include annual performance and
financial audits. In addition, the program is overseen by a District Citizens
Oversight Committee and facilities committees at each of the Districtís
colleges.

As part of its evaluation, Capstone
will assess staffing levels and compensation practices. The firmís assessment
also is intended to identify potential management inefficiencies as well as
potential or actual conflicts of interest.

The Districtís building program
dates to 2001, when Los Angeles
voters approved the first of three successive bond measures providing most of
the programís $6 billion in funding. While modernizing the Districtís nine
colleges, it also has focused on cutting-edge green building

techniques, and has won numerous
awards of its sustainable construction practices.

Interim Chancellor Tyree Wieder said the broad scope of the program, and its
expansion over the past year, make it essential to conduct an updated
management assessment.

ďIt is our responsibility to
effectively manage the bond money approved by voters, so that we can provide
improved educational opportunities for our students,Ē Dr. Wieder said.

Capstone will begin its work within days and will provide regular reports to
the Board of Trustees.

†

For the firmís work, the Board of
Trustees authorized payment, including expenses, of up to $90,000. The contract
extends through Jan. 31, 2010.

About the LACCDSustainableBuilding Program
With more than $6 billion in bond funding to modernize its nine colleges, the
LACCDís Sustainable Building Program is one of the nationís largest green
construction efforts. For more information on the LACCDís construction program
and a list of awards the District has received for its environmentally
responsible projects, visit www.laccdbuildsgreen.org.